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20/04/2006
Fife bird flu restrictions to be lifted
The restrictions put in place following the discovery of a swan with bird flu in Cellardyke, Fife, Scotland are to be removed within days.
The First Minister has told the Scottish Parliament that the 3km “protection zone” applied to poultry products was to be removed on Saturday.
While movement restrictions imposed on live poultry in the zone will remain in force until at least May, the larger 10km surveillance zone will be stood down on May 1.
However, the restrictions will be relaxed only if a number of veterinary inspections, to be conducted on wild birds in the surveillance area, prove clear.
First Minister Jack McConnell said that vets and officials had reacted quickly to the incident, and responded effectively to what could have been a major outbreak.
The Scottish ministerial level civil contingencies group will discuss the incident at their next meeting.
Mr McConnell said that he wanted to send out a “very strong signal” that people should still visit Scotland as bird flu was not a human disease.
Disease control experts maintain that while the H5N1 strain of bird flu poses a threat to humans, it would have to mutate to become readily communicable to humans.
DNA tests revealed that the swan found dead in Fife was a Whooper swan, which is a migratory species. However, it is not known where the swan picked up the disease, and it has even been speculated that the bird may have been washed up of the Fife coastline.
(SP)
The First Minister has told the Scottish Parliament that the 3km “protection zone” applied to poultry products was to be removed on Saturday.
While movement restrictions imposed on live poultry in the zone will remain in force until at least May, the larger 10km surveillance zone will be stood down on May 1.
However, the restrictions will be relaxed only if a number of veterinary inspections, to be conducted on wild birds in the surveillance area, prove clear.
First Minister Jack McConnell said that vets and officials had reacted quickly to the incident, and responded effectively to what could have been a major outbreak.
The Scottish ministerial level civil contingencies group will discuss the incident at their next meeting.
Mr McConnell said that he wanted to send out a “very strong signal” that people should still visit Scotland as bird flu was not a human disease.
Disease control experts maintain that while the H5N1 strain of bird flu poses a threat to humans, it would have to mutate to become readily communicable to humans.
DNA tests revealed that the swan found dead in Fife was a Whooper swan, which is a migratory species. However, it is not known where the swan picked up the disease, and it has even been speculated that the bird may have been washed up of the Fife coastline.
(SP)
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Bird flu tests continue
More dead birds are being tested for bird flu in Scotland, after the first case of the deadly H5N1 virus in a wild bird in the UK was discovered there. Fourteen birds - 12 swans and two other species - are currently being tested. Nine birds have so far tested negative for the H5N1 virus.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
